The celebration included an art auction and a portrait of Sidney Poitier hit the block. Six-year-old Blue Ivy entered a bidding war with none other than writer-director-producer Tyler Perry, making a $19,000 bid on the painting.

JAY-Z supervised Blue Ivy’s bids and seemed to reign her in when the stakes rose to $20,000. You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, when to fold ’em, when to walk away and so on. This didn’t look like Blue Ivy’s first time bidding on expensive art and most likely won’t be her last. Ultimately, Tyler Perry won the piece.

Blue Ivy didn’t leave the gala empty-handed, however. She won a piece by artist Samuel Levi Jones for a more modest sum of $10,000.

Watch a clip from the event here:

]]>http://news.radio.com/2018/03/19/blue-ivy-carter-bids-painting/feed/0Stevie Wonder Defends Bruno Mars: ‘He’s a Great Talent’http://news.radio.com/2018/03/19/stevie-wonder-bruno-mars/
http://news.radio.com/2018/03/19/stevie-wonder-bruno-mars/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 13:37:32 +0000Pop – Radio.com | Music, Sports, News and More. Start Listening Nowhttp://news.radio.com/?p=295109The debate stemmed from Mars' Album of the Year win at the GRAMMYs, after which several pundits questioned whether he would have won the award if he was a black artist.]]>By Annie Reuter

Stevie Wonder is a fan of Bruno Mars and he’s not afraid to admit it, dismissing accusations against Mars of cultural appropriation as “bull—-.”

“God created music for everyone to enjoy so we cannot limit ourselves by people’s fears and insecurities,” Wonder said, when asked by TMZ about Mars’ use of African American styles in his music even though he’s not black.

“He’s a great talent so the other stuff is just bull—-,” asserted Stevie. “He was inspired by great musicians and great artists and songwriters, so that’s good. God created music for everybody.”

The debate stemmed from Mars’ Album of the Year win at the GRAMMYs, after which several pundits questioned whether he would have won the award if he was a black artist. Mars, a Puerto Rican with Filipino background, blended elements of funk, soul, R&B, pop and rock on his GRAMMY-winning album 24K Magic.

The song is from the group’s third album Culture 2, which came out in January, and the video is an homage to the ’70s music and dance program Soul Train.

Migos wear ruffles and fake afros, and Drake’s hair is styled in a Jheri curl. The host of Culture Ride, the fictional show Migos are playing, is none other than Jamie Foxx (as Ron Delirious). The clip also features a cameo from Lil Yachty.

“These women have inspired us all our lives & we are eternally grateful for their encouragement in this fight,” shared one of the event organizers, Jaclyn Corin, shared on Twitter with the announcements of the pop stars’ participation in the march. See the tweet below.

“We’re gonna have four major independent women that are standing with us and walking beside us,” said David Hogg, a survivor of the recent high school shooting in Parkland, FL., to CNN.

“They’re gonna be standing there with us and marching with us and they’re just some of the few people that are really coming out and stepping up with us,” he added.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students will lead the march. Stars including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and George Clooney have all donated money to support the event.

Instead of getting mad, Cabello leaned into the moment, firing off a series of absurd modeling poses for the startled pap.

“lmao it’s kinda like when life throws u lemons, make lemonade,” Cabello joked on Twitter, retweeting a tweet featuring the paparazzi photos. “If they’re taking pictures, might as well do a photoshoot.”

Pop Crave has shared video of the moment, capturing the “Havana” singer striking poses as the surprised photographer thanks her for the unexpected outburst.

lmao it’s kinda like when life throws u lemons, make lemonade... if they’re taking pictures, might as well do a pho… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…

In a statement about the cover, Q-Tip says, “Elton’s influence shows you that the possibilities of music are endless…. He’s a master showman, singer, pianist. He’s the all round goods.”

The spirit of that statement is realized in a new music video released to accompany the song.

A very eccentric dance party sees characters in extravagant costumes vibing to the slow driving beat of the music. Director Hector Dockrill was reportedly inspired by Paris Is Burning, a 1990 ball culture documentary.

Other artists featured on the Revamp album include, Lady Gaga, Queens of the Stone Age, and Florence and the Machine.

]]>http://news.radio.com/2018/03/16/q-tip-demi-lovato-music-video-elton-john-cover/feed/0Parkland Students Release ‘Shine’ as Charity Singlehttp://news.radio.com/2018/03/16/parkland-students-shine-charity-single/
http://news.radio.com/2018/03/16/parkland-students-shine-charity-single/#respondFri, 16 Mar 2018 13:49:41 +0000Pop – Radio.com | Music, Sports, News and More. Start Listening Nowhttp://news.radio.com/?p=294973Proceeds will go to the SHINE MSD Fund, which will support the victims and families of the shooting through mental health and arts programs.]]>By Robyn Collins

Survivors from Parkland, Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have released “Shine,” a song they wrote following the shootings that took place at their school on Feb. 14.

The student songwriters, Sawyer Garrity, 16, and Andrea Peña, 15, performed “Shine” with their drama club at a CNN Town Hall meeting just one week after 17 people were killed at their school.

“We, we’re gonna stand tall/ Gonna raise up our voices, so we’ll never, ever fall,” go the lyrics. “We’re done with all your little games/ We’re tired of hearing that we’re too young to ever make a change/ ‘Cause you’re not gonna knock us down/ We’ll get back up again/ You may have hurt us but I promise we’ll be stronger/ And we’re not gonna let you in/ We’re putting up a fight/ You may have brought the dark/ But together we will shine a light.”

“Shine” will be a theme song at the March For Our Lives demonstration on March 24 in Washington D.C.

Proceeds from the download sales of “Shine” will go to the SHINE MSD Fund, which will support the victims and families of the shooting through mental health and arts programs.

Yesterday, Britney Spears shared a video of her gym routine set to Janet Jackson’s “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” from her 2004 album Damita Jo. The “Toxic” singer stretches and lifts weights to the throwback song. Spears looks strong and healthy in her workout gear, offering her fans yet another glimpse of how hard she pushes herself.

Later in the day, Spears shared a photo from her grand foyer wearing an off-the-shoulder white dress. She seemed to be in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit, captioning the image with a variety of shamrock emojis.

The track offers yet another example of the group’s catchy, beat-heavy blend of EDM and pop.

“Everybody Hates Me” is a mid-tempo, hip-hop-inflected track about being dismayed and disillusioned. “Yeah, I just wanna drink tequila with my friend/ She said she cheated ’cause she’s trying to get ahead. The more I read her, yeah, the more I take offense/ I’m so defeated I can’t get outside my head.”

By the time The Chainsmokers hit the chorus, they’re in full self-deprecation mode: “I walk into the club like everybody hates me/ I’m talking to myself, s—, now they think I’m crazy/ I walk into the club like everybody hates me.”

The extravagant invite was shared by Jasmine Dotiwala, who posted a series of tweets revealing the package opened by a fan in her office. Needless to say, it’s pretty cool.

“Hey guys, if you’re watching this right now, then you got a VIP package for the Reputation tour, and I’m so excited that you did,” Swift says in a video that comes with the invitation. “I’m so excited that you wanted to come. I am so stoked about it.”

The Twitter video pulls back to reveal a crowd of fans watching the video in awe, with one exclaiming “Amazing!” in the background. See the tweet below.

In a separate tweet, Dotiwala details that the invite is packaged in a giant stage that seems to reveal what fans can expect to see at the shows.

If this is what the VIP invite looks like, we can’t wait to discover what happens when those fans attend the tour. See her full string of tweets below.

“I haven’t been abused in the way some women have,” Lopez stated in the piece. “But have I been told by a director to take off my shirt and show my boobs? Yes, I have. But did I do it? No, I did not.”

Lopez went on to say that while she didn’t comply with the unnamed director’s outrageous request, she admitted that it still shook her to the core.

“When I did speak up, I was terrified,” she recalled. “I remember my heart beating out of my chest, thinking, ‘What did I do? This man is hiring me!’ It was one of my first movies. But in my mind, I knew the behavior wasn’t right. It could have gone either way for me. But I think ultimately the Bronx in me was like, ‘Nah, we’re not having it.’”

Lopez also spoke on her high profile relationship with controversial former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, saying that he’s the right man for her right now.

“It’s good, it’s healthy; we communicate well. We understand each other’s lives in a way that most other people couldn’t,” Lopez shared. “We both entered the public eye in our early 20s and overachieved right from the start. And that affects every dynamic in your life, from your family to your work to your relationships. We have a similar makeup.”

In the clip, Diplo sports a long blonde wig (the same one he wore in a Yeezy photo shoot parody) and a long green shirt (but no pants) to flop and flounder around to the strains of Swift’s current single.

“I’m delicate,” the DJ captioned the Twitter video, where he particularly has trouble attempting to do the splits. Looks like Diplo isn’t exactly a yoga aficionado.

The clip is, however, highly entertaining, with Diplo barley containing himself from cracking up while he writhes around on the floor.

Diplo has a history of provoking Swifties, watch the clip below and prepare for Swift’s legions of fans to descend on Diplo’s Twitter account any moment now.

While the company has since apologized for the blunder, Rihanna has taken to Instagram Stories to let Snapchat know exactly how she felt about the promotion.

“Now SNAPCHAT I know you already know you ain’t my fav app out there! But I’m just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess!,” Rihanna wrote. “I’d love to call it ignorance, but I know you ain’t that dumb! You spent money to animate something that would intentionally bring shame to DV victims and made a joke of it!!!! This isn’t about my personal feelings, cause I don’t have much of them…but all the women, children, and men that have been victims of DV in the past and especially the ones who haven’t made it out yet….you let us down! Shame on you. Throw the whole app-oligy away.”

See a fan capture of her statement below.

Fans were fast to support Rihanna in opposition against Snapchat, and shared those feelings via social media.

“Rihanna said we should delete our snapchat for their domestic abuse joke,” posted one fan. “Our president has spoken therefore i’m deleting snapchat.”

The Snapchat gaffe follows Kylie Jenner’s recent proclamation that she was over the app, causing the company’s stocks to tumble.

And there we have it. Rihanna just singlehandedly annihilated Snapchat. On IG stories at that! https://t.co/71b81oXU6J

Several artists are teaming up to raise money to assist those affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Akon, French Montana are set to headline the Power To The People event on March 18 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The star-studded benefit concert will include additional performances by Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Lupe Fiasco, Jeremih, B.o.B. and Black Thought, among others. The Power To The People event will be sponsored by Lottery.com and music fans can donate to Puerto Rico through Lottery.com/powertothepeople.

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September of 2017, killing more than 1,000 people. Currently, much of the island remains without power.

Special counsel Robert Mueller and his team have kept a tight lid on their investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. That hasn’t stopped comedians (and some hopeful citizens) from imagining what the outcome might look like for President Donald Trump. Late Late Show host James Corden put a satirical spin on Mueller’s investigation with the help of Shaggy and his most memorable hit—”It Wasn’t Me.”

In the video, Corden plays Robert Mueller and the Jamaican singer plays the president, locked in a back-and-forth over lurid dossiers, “witchhunts,” Vladimir Putin and incriminating emails. The new lyrics touch on Trump’s diet, the firing of FBI Director James Comey and Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress with whom the president is alleged to have carried out an extramarital affair.

Watch the musical sketch here:

]]>http://news.radio.com/2018/03/15/james-corden-shaggy-trump-it-wasnt-me/feed/0Elton John Tribute Albums to Feature Stars From Across Genreshttp://news.radio.com/2018/03/15/elton-john-tribute-albums/
http://news.radio.com/2018/03/15/elton-john-tribute-albums/#respondThu, 15 Mar 2018 13:54:36 +0000Pop – Radio.com | Music, Sports, News and More. Start Listening Nowhttp://news.radio.com/?p=294801Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, The Killers, Mary J. Blige, Little Big Town and Chris Stapleton are just a few of the big names that appear on the new albums.]]>By Hayden Wright

Earlier this year, Elton John announced that his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour will be his final series of live engagements. His retirement from the touring life coincides with a GRAMMY tribute concert, set to air next month. Additionally, Elton recruited some of music’s biggest stars to record two albums worth of covers from his long and hit-laden career.

The first album, Revamp features pop, rock and urban acts. Ed Sheeran will cover “Candle In The Wind,” Lady Gaga will take a stab at “Your Song” and Demi Lovato will step into the KiKi Dee part of “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” opposite Q-Tip.

The second album, Restoration features a familiar cast of country characters, including Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris, Little Big Town and the Brothers Osbourne. Legends of the genre like Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson will also appear on the album.

Miley Cyrus (who appeared with Elton at the GRAMMYs) appears on both Revamp and Restoration. On the former, she’ll cover “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and on the latter, she’ll put her spin on “The B—- Is Back.”

Both albums will be available on April 6, see the complete tracklistings below.

“I was a tad bit uncomfortable,” Glaze told The New York Times. “I wanted to save it for my first relationship. I wanted it to be special.”

Glaze confessed to the judges that he had never been kissed before after he mentioned that he enjoyed his work as a cashier because it let him meet “cute girls.”

“Would I have done it if she said, ‘Would you kiss me?’ No, I would have said ‘no,’” he said. “I know a lot of guys would be like, ‘Heck yeah!’ But for me, I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable, immediately.”

It has been five months since Glaze’s ‘Idol’ segment was shot, and though he maintains that he never enjoyed Perry’s kiss, he is grateful for all the attention it has caused, which has helped him promote his songs.

“In that way, I’m glad she did it because it’s a great opportunity to get my music out,” he said.

Swift shared the rehearsal videos on Instagram, featuring the singer clad in athleisure wear working on the moves synced up with the final product from the finished piece.

Watch Swift work it out and make it perfect in the pair of Instagram videos below.

]]>http://news.radio.com/2018/03/14/taylor-swift-delicate-dance-moves/feed/0G-Eazy Has a Tough Time Staying ‘Sober’ in New Video with Charlie Puthhttp://news.radio.com/2018/03/14/g-eazy-sober-video/
http://news.radio.com/2018/03/14/g-eazy-sober-video/#respondWed, 14 Mar 2018 17:58:43 +0000Pop – Radio.com | Music, Sports, News and More. Start Listening Nowhttp://news.radio.com/?p=294720The rapper parties hard and gets up to no good throughout the 20th century in the time-traveling clip. ]]>By Scott T. Sterling

G-Eazy parties and gets up to no good across generations in the wild new video for “Sober” featuring Charlie Puth.

The time-traveling clip opens with the rapper waking up in a back alley looking beat up and worse for wear. When he stumbles into a nearby doorway, he’s transported to the Roaring ’20s. There, he drinks to excess as he lords over a Prohibition-era party.

With Charlie Puth hanging out on a rooftop singing the hook, G-Eazy commits adultery in the 1950s, trips with hippies in the ’60s, and snorts himself into oblivion in the ’80s before landing in the ’90s at drug-fueled rave.

The visual is the latest from G-Eazy’s most recent album, The Beautiful & Damned.

Remember Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett? Make way for Miley Cyrus and Elton John.

The duo first performed “Tiny Dancer” to acclaim at this year’s GRAMMY Awards, but honoring Elton didn’t stop there. Miley went on to perform at Elton John: I’m Still Standing—A Grammy Tribute. Miley just shared images from her performance that night and backstage as she posed with Sam Smith.

The special was filmed January 30 at Madison Square Garden, two days after this year’s Recording Academy ceremony. In addition to Cyrus and Smith, artists like Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Chris Martin, Kesha, John Legend made appearances. John himself (who recently announced his retirement from touring) also performed to celebrate his decades-long career in music.

Sir Elton will cap his live career with a farewell tour encompassing 300 dates on 5 continents through 2021.

Lipa will now miss her previously scheduled gigs on March 14-15 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

“I’m so sorry to have to cancel some of my support shows with Bruno Mars,” the singer shared on Twitter this morning (March 14). “I’ve been performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth and as advised by my dentist and oral surgeon I have had to have them imminently removed.”

“I have been enjoying this tour so much and I’m so upset that life has gotten in the way but hopefully I’ll have a speedy recovery and make it back as soon as possible,” she added. “Thank you for your understanding.”

Hopefully, Lipa will be back in action with the tour hits Sydney, Australia, for a series of shows with Mars that kick off on March 17.

I have been enjoying this tour so much and i’m so upset that life has gotten in the way but hopefully i’ll have a s… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…

Riding the success of her debut album, Camila, the singer will embark on a tour titled after her hit single “Never Be The Same.” Cabello started teasing the live engagements on Twitter this week, sharing a behind-the-scenes video.

The black-and-white footage shows Camila rehearsing with backup dancers and checking in with technical pros. The minute-long clip is backed by her song “Into It,” and Camila captioned the tweet, “#NeverBeTheSameTour in the making,” with purple heart and crystal ball emojis.

Cabello’s tour kicks off April 9 in Vancouver. The singer is also scheduled to open select dates of Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour.

]]>http://news.radio.com/2018/03/14/camila-cabello-teaser-never-be-the-same-tour/feed/0Justin Timberlake Kicks Off ‘Man of the Woods’ Tour: See the Setlisthttp://news.radio.com/2018/03/14/justin-timberlake-tour-setlist/
http://news.radio.com/2018/03/14/justin-timberlake-tour-setlist/#respondWed, 14 Mar 2018 13:38:22 +0000Pop – Radio.com | Music, Sports, News and More. Start Listening Nowhttp://news.radio.com/?p=294635The set took fans on a journey through the 16 years of JT's solo stardom. It also included an eclectic mix of covers.]]>By Hayden Wright

Last night, the former *NSYNC singer kicked off the album’s world tour with the first of two sold-out shows in Toronto, Ontario. Timberlake’s set list included a mix of new material, such as “Flannel” and “Supplies” from Man Of The Woods and throwback hits like “Senorita” and “SexyBack.”

The set took fans on a journey through the 16 years of JT’s solo stardom. It also included an eclectic medley of covers: “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, “Ex-Factor” by Lauryn Hill, “Come Together” by the Beatles and “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” by John Denver. Timberlake performed with a 15-piece band on a set that included trees, laser projectors and a giant Man Of The Woods logo.

The first of eight episodes of BTS: Burn The Stage will premiere March 28 and will be available for free on the band’s YouTube channel. The remaining seven shows will only be available to YouTube Red subscribers.

In a press release, the show is described as “an intimate eyewitness account of their star-making, sold-out world tour,” and a “personal portrayal dedicated to each other and to their fans across the globe. It celebrates the triumph of their friendship as they overcome hardships together, and shows their growth and hard work as BTS continues on the path to grow into pioneering artists of worldwide renown.”

BTS: Burn The Stage follows the band on its 300-day, 20-city tour across Asia, South America, and the United States.

His bestselling books (including A Brief History Of Time) set him apart as one of the world’s most recognizable scientists and the foremost icon in his field.

Hawking’s work also inspired art and music throughout his lifetime. His distinctive electronic voice appeared on a Pink Floyd record and he guest-starred on episodes of The Simpsons. As the news broke overnight, musicians and artists reacted with tributes to Hawking’s wit, wisdom and determination in the face of adversity.

Nile Rodgers (who had met Hawking) called the professor a “genius” and wrote, “Condolences to your family who are super cool. Hanging with you was one of the greatest honors in my life. Your sense of humor was amazing even though I had to wait for the punch lines.”

Katy Perry, Lauren Jauregui, and the cast of The Big Bang Theory (on which he also appeared) sent condolences as well.

See the tributes to Hawking below.

there’s a big black hole in my heart hours before Pi day. Rest In Peace @Steven_Hawking... See you in the next ❤️

“Gigi and I had an incredibly meaningful, loving and fun relationship and I have a huge amount of respect for Gigi as a woman and a friend,” Malik shared on Twitter.

“She has such an incredible soul. I’m grateful to all of our fans for respecting this difficult decision and our privacy at this time, we wish the news could have come from us first,” the singer added. “We love you all.”

Hadid also shared a social media message about the breakup: “breakup statements often seem impersonal because there is really no way to put into words what two people experience together over a few years .. not only in the relationship but in life in general. I’m forever grateful for the love, time and life lessons that Z and I shared. I want nothing but the best for him and will continue to support him as a friend that I have immense respect and love for. As for the future, whatever’s meant to be will always be.”

The saga began with West’s song, “No More Parties in L.A.,” during which he raps the line: “I wish I dressed as fresh as Shia LaBeouf.”

It was enough to spark a visit to LaBeouf’s home to talk about a possible art collaboration. West’s plan: a pop-up shop featuring the actor’s clothing.

“Around the same time, I took my mother to his concert. She is, of course, obsessed with Kanye West,” LaBeouf told Esquire. “When I brought her backstage, he was a f—ing sweetheart to her. And it just felt fair. So I’m like, ‘Go for it, my guy. Take everything you want.’ And he did. He took all my f—ing clothes. Me and him haven’t really been in contact since he blew up onstage and, you know, s— on me.”

Among the items: the hat Labeouf wore in the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

LaBeouf’s comment is in regards to West’s infamous 2016 onstage meltdown at a show in Sacramento, CA, where he ranted for 15 minutes before ending the performance after just three songs.

Towards the end of the rant, West called out LaBeouf: “Shia LaBeouf, Kid Cudi feels a way. Give him a call” (Labeouf worked with Cudi on music videos “Maniac” and “Marijuana”).

The actor says he’s tried to reach out to the rapper in order to get back his belongings, but to no avail.

“Of course, bro. I f—ing love Kanye West,” Labeouf insisted. “He’s going through a lot. And I don’t know where he’s at or what he’s doing. That dude has a lot of my s—.”

In the meantime, West has been spotted wearing one of LaBeouf’s hats in public.

NBA All-Star Stephen Curry turns 30 tomorrow (March 14), and last night he celebrated the milestone with a birthday party in San Francisco. Steph’s wife Ayesha Curry planned the event and recruited Paramore to perform on the main stage.

Gomez is working with Creative Director Stuart Vevers on a collection that will include jackets, leather goods, and accessories.

“I am so excited to be working with Coach again,” Selena said in a press release. “Getting to create my own collection with Stuart has been such a fun process, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have been working on over the past several months.”

The singer shared a preview of the line on Instagram, posting a photo of a beautiful pink, lacy blouse and hinting that there’s much more to come.

“Fam, my second collection for @coach is going to include clothes!” she captioned the photo. “So grateful I got to work on this with @stuartvevers. Can’t wait to show you this fall.”

The March 23 show is in support of the March for Our Lives rallies happening the next day in the wake of the high school shooting tragedy that occurred in Parkland, FL, last month. Proceeds will benefit gun violence prevention groups Giffords and Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.

“This is a time for action,” Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz told Rolling Stone. “We need to support the Parkland teens, and kids across the country. We have their backs, and we must demand our lawmakers do more to end this gun violence crisis.”

“I’m looking forward to being a part of this and getting energized by these kids and other survivors who have been incredibly inspiring to me,” G-Eazy added.

“Stay Amped” is scheduled for D.C. venue The Anthem, with tickets going on sale this Wednesday, March 12.

The seated venue boasts “Super Excellent Seats,” categorized as “the first few rows of each balcony.” At the “Stay Amped” show, for each “Super Excellent Seat” sold, a ticket will be donated “to a student activist attending the March for Our Lives rally from Parkland and elsewhere in the country,” per the concert listing.

this is the time for action. join us in the fight against gun violence for the Stay Amped benefit show at The Anthe… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…

The husband and wife team have revealed stadium dates for the On the Run II tour, with the rap and pop superstars uniting for what will surely be among the most popular and talked-about tours of the year.

Nineteen-year-old Benjamin Glaze got more than he bargained for when he appeared on American Idol. During his pre-performance interview, the Oklahoma native admitted he had never kissed a girl because he’d never been in a relationship.

So, judge Katy Perry invited the teen over to the desk and urged him to plant a kiss on her cheek. Glaze nervously agreed, and when he leaned in for a second cheek-kiss, Perry turned her face so their lips connected, which surprised Glaze so much he fell backward.

Benjamin started his performance a bit flustered by the unplanned kiss, and all three judges declined to send him to Hollywood. Perry said his presentation felt a bit “rushed,” and added “maybe that’s because I sped up your BPM.”

While some people found the moment adorable, others on Twitter saw a double standard which was tough to watch. “Would the kiss have been appropriate if it was gender reversed?” wrote one viewer.

“Can you imagine if Simon Cowell had done that?” another fan wondered.

Watch the unusual American Idol moment below.

]]>http://news.radio.com/2018/03/12/katy-perry-american-idol-first-kiss/feed/0Rare Early Beatles Photos Set for Auctionhttp://news.radio.com/2018/03/12/unearthed-beatles-photos-sale/
http://news.radio.com/2018/03/12/unearthed-beatles-photos-sale/#respondMon, 12 Mar 2018 13:37:21 +0000Pop – Radio.com | Music, Sports, News and More. Start Listening Nowhttp://news.radio.com/?p=294255The first photos from the collection were taken two days after their legendary appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' ]]>By Hayden Wright

More than fifty years ago, an eighteen-year-old named Mike Mitchell shot photos that captured the energy and promise of the Beatles before they reached the stratosphere of pop fame. Now, a collection of his images titled The Beatles Illuminated will hit the auction block at the U.K.’s Omega Auctions.

Mitchell first took photos of the band at the Washington Coliseum on February 11, 1964 — two days after their legendary appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He shot them again two days later at the Baltimore Civic Center.

“To me, this concert was an opportunity to do portraits, and to get an up-close look, to really see who these guys were,” Mitchell said in a video to promote the collection. “Many Americans emerging from the sleep-walking ’50s saw the Beatles as very strange creatures, indeed. Most of the establishment press treated them as mere novelty. My generation, however, felt an immediate connection with them and still do.”

Selected prints from Mitchell’s collection were auctioned in 2011 but the images remain rare and largely unseen, even among diehard Beatles fans. The newest auction includes Mitchell’s entire archive of negatives as well as their full copyright. As the band redefined the intersection of pop and rock, Mitchell felt challenged to portray them in a new way.

“I was very motivated to come up with stuff that was as unique as could possibly be,” he said. “I looked and noticed that nobody was up on the stage. I thought, ‘I wonder what it would be like to be up on the stage and see what I could get up there?'”

The auction house claims Mitchell’s distinctive eye and his reliance on natural light (he couldn’t afford a flash) make this collection one-of-a-kind.

“This is an incredible archive. The unique combination of perspective and light sets them apart from any other Beatles photographs of that period,” said Auctioneer Paul Fairweather.

Watch Mitchell discuss the photos and check out the iconic images here:

Last year was huge for Harry Styles. His debut solo album topped the charts and his debut film (Dunkirk) earned eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. And Styles’ isn’t slowing down. As he tours for his self-titled album, Harry is keeping his fans happy by playing them new material.